Important information

This site uses cookies to store information on your computer. By continuing to use our site, you consent to Steel Media's
privacy policy.

Steel Media websites use two types of cookie: (1) those that enable the site to function and perform as required; and (2) analytical cookies which anonymously track visitors only while using the site. If you are not happy with this use of these cookies please review our Privacy Policy to learn how they can be disabled. By disabling cookies some features of the site will not work.

PROS

CONS

VERDICT

A side-scroller with labyrinth areas, upgrades earned off bosses, chip tune music, pixel art, and a talking dinosaur. Far from polished but its charm should delight a few.

Full Review

App Store Info

Female ninja Eileen is just minding her business jumping from rooftop to rooftop when a crowd gathers around a spaceship that has just descended. A enigmatic T-rex named Trex pops out and enlists Eileen to help him regain control of his flying saucer. From there it's a side scrolling trek through the ship, defeating enemies, exploring different zones, defeating bosses, and upgrading your abilities. Think a Metroid game with a more lighthearted feel.

Eileen is controlled by on-screen buttons to make her move, jump, and swing her sword. The controls are a little stiff (especially the sword with its short range), but nothing that will make your travel troublesome, and most enemies can be killed Mario style with a jump on the noggin. As you traverse your way through the maze like flying saucer you'll come across bosses that when defeated will give you abilities allowing you to access previously inaccessible areas. The first boss allows you to tap yellow blocks to destroy them, while the second boss allows you to double jump (every platformer needs its double jump).

The game has quite the retro presentation and this has both its pros and cons. The chip tune music for the most part is fantastically catchy, but some of the tracks are so short, that the constant looping becomes quite annoying (the intro music is such an example). The art while amusing in its low grade pixel form is honestly more than a little amateurish, and sometimes it can be difficult to work out what's part of the background and what can be jumped on

Nevertheless Mystery of the Japanese Werewolf has enough charm and inventiveness to be worth a look. The highlight is the banter between Eileen and Trex and the whole game has a nice sense of humor about it. Definitely a good first effort from this solo developer.

Description

A flying saucer landed on Earth; its enigmatic pilot asks for help. Ghosts and monsters lurk inside his magnificent custom painted flying saucer, but Eileen, the new ninja in town, is at the right place at the right time and so she gets to go on an adventure that is as nostalgic as it is NEW.

Inspired by really good classic games like Ninja Gaiden, Super Mario and Metroid, Mystery of the J-Werewolf was designed to be as comfortable as holding an old NES controller, but also to use the modern features of iOS devices in unique ways.

A classic platformer made by someone who played lots of them. The old meets the new in this new spin on 2D sidescrollers!

==================================
What people are saying? Do you really want to know? Yes? YES YOU DO!
==================================

"a great job at feeling modern while still being very retro" - 148Apps (4 stars out of 5!)

"it looks good, the sound is a treat for anyone who gets off on nostalgia, it's fun to play, and it has a talking dinosaur" - Slide to Play (3 stars out of 4!)

"music to the ears of anyone who’s been waiting for a retro iOS game that actually captures the spirit of retro game design rather than plopping pixelated graphics over bare-bones gameplay" - iFanzine

"its often hilarious writing makes it worth a download even without the deliciously classic gameplay" - Appolicious

You can see a gameplay trailer on the Support link (or http://is.gd/jwerewolftrailer)

==================================

This game is Retina Ready for iPhone/iPod and iPad. Sure, since it's pixel art, all you get will be larger pixels. But, hey: at least we're safe from horrible, blurry interpolation!

==================================

As of 1.06, J-Werewolf has 3 touch-screen control options and supports Joypad and some other popular joystick hardware. One of these options should really fit your needs. PLEASE, try them all before writing a review. The controls in J-Werewolf are fine!